When I greeted my client today and asked how she was doing she told me she was OK. . . . . In other words she wasn’t really OK. When I inquired further she told me she hadn’t had much to eat today, that she felt tired. We talked about how to proceed with our clutter clearing project, given how she was feeling. Once we’d agreed on our approach and focus we got to work.

This client is a busy inner-city elementary school principal. She is very capable and it’s not unusual that she presents at our sessions as tired and stressed. What was unusual was her admitting that she didn’t feel well. I kept that in mind as I worked with her. About 30 minutes before the end of our two hour session she complained about feeling hot and was not experiencing a hot flash. She decided that a snack might help her feel better, and rather than snack while we continued to work, she chose to take a break and eat a yogurt and drink some water in an adjoining conference room. It was VERY unusual for this client to stop working altogether because she is all about getting things done. Clearly something was not right!

For the next 10 minutes I worked independently to help move her along despite her need to stop. When I got to a point that I could not proceed without her input I joined her in the next room. There we talked about her symptoms and the possible causes of her discomfort: dehydration, a blood pressure drop, a reaction to food she had at lunch, and a blood sugar drop. When I informed her that you can become dehydrated after 15 minutes of concentrated work, she drank several additional bottles of water. The more water she drank, the more she perked up and she eventually felt much better.

Why am I sharing this with you? Because her behavior reminded me that self-care is an important part of successful clutter clearing. Following are several ways you can ensure that you arrive at that challenge as your best, most empowered self:

• Be well rested.
• Make sure you have good fuel for your brain–preferably some protein and fresh fruits or vegetables. Avoid simple carbohydrates like sugar and wheat-based products.
• Be well hydrated and plan to sip water while you work to avoid dehydration.

Your body and your brain are tools that need to be in the best possible shape to tackle the challenging process of decision-making involved in clutter clearing. If your body or your brain shut down, you must stop. Make attending to your physical self-care a priority any time you plan to clear clutter.

You may have noticed that I haven’t been posting with my usual regularity. Once again I have been hijacked by family challenges. I recently had to move my mother from out of town to an assisted living facility closer to me, which in itself was a major feat given my mother’s resistance, her dementia and some interference from another well-meaning family member. Then, there has been a time of adjustment for Mom which has required a lot of support from me and much time spent to make sure she has the best life possible in her new home.

At times like this, when emotions are running high and energy is running low, I have had to pare back what I do to the bare minimum so I can survive the current storm. And, family comes first.

Unfortunately at stressful times like this I find it very difficult to write. Writing takes a kind of reflection and focus that are just not possible when I’m doing all I can to stay afloat with my personal life and my business. So, please accept my apologies for being absent for extended periods of time during the last few months. I am sure that once I reach a new equilibrium I will be back with many new insights to share. I look forward to writing some articles about what I’ve learned from my recent experience helping my mother transition to assisted living.

Yesterday I had surgery to remove a basal cell skin cancer on my face. I had doctor’s orders to rest so my incision could heal properly. I used that order to give myself permission to stop doing and start resting. Isn’t it sad that it takes a doctor’s order for me to stop and take care of myself?

I indulged in reading a novel most of the day. From time to time I’d feel the twinge of “you should be using this time to get some writing done,” but for most of the day I ignored it. At 5 p.m. when I needed a break from my book, I picked up my laptop and checked my email. Then I wrote an organizing tip, 2 blog posts and reviewed a stack of speech evaluations and entered about 40 emails into my database.

The learning? If I allow myself to rest, I have better mental clarity than if I keep limping along at half speed. If I allow myself to rest, my productivity soars!

Hmmmm. . . . .now, how to keep myself from going back to autopilot of work, work, work all the time without the doctor’s help?

© 2012 Clutter Clearing Community | Debbie Bowie

“Author, Organizing Expert and Feng Shui Practitioner, Debbie Bowie, is a leading authority on clutter clearing to attract more of what you want in life. If you’re ready to clear clutter and move your life forward, get your FREE TIP SHEET, “Feng Shui Tips for Instant Success” at http://www.clutterclearingcommunity.com.

Don’t miss this opportunity to hear a new perspective about illness, its causes and solutions! It could be a turning point in reclaiming your health!

America is rampant with disease and illness. More women than men are sick; we suffer from cardiovascular disease, diabetes, hypertension, metabolic syndrome. We are obese, depressed, anxious, lonely, and tired-really, really tired. What is behind all the disease? Why are we so sick? Bronwyn Lewis tells her own story of illness and recovery, linking illness to mind, body and spirit. She explores how emotions, responses to life situations and the environment affect our health.

Date: March 29, 2011

Time: 8:00-9:00 p.m. EST

Cost: $27

Registration: http://events.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=9lizjscab&oeidk=a07e3gy3prjcc95b505

Presenter: Bronwyn Lewis, MS, FNP, Board Certified Family Nurse Practitioner. She practices Preventive and Energy Medicine with a special emphasis on health and wellness.

Ms. Lewis earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in nursing from Virginia Commonwealth University/Medical College of Virginia in 1998, furthering her education at that august institution with a Master’s in Nursing with a special concentration in family practice in 2001.

In 2008, Ms. Lewis completed a fellowship in Anti-Aging and Regenerative & Functional Medicine from the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine in conjunction with the Institute of Functional Medicine. That same year she also obtained her certification in Quantum Touch/Healing, and in 2010 she became certified in Sign Language of the Soul. Energy healing/Medicine is an essential aspect of her work with clients and, as such, has become a staple of her practice.

“I believe firmly that you are what you think, eat, and believe.
“I believe that there is a Universal Oneness, that all things are related in some way.
“I believe there is a divine spark (light and love) within each of us which is permeated and nourished by spiritual energy and guidance.
“I believe that true healing changes your soul, and is about much more than getting rid of symptoms, medications or having surgery. Soul Healing is self love that begins the work of healing.
“Cherish, therefore, all aspects of yourself from your heart… not your mind.”

There are so many options available for getting to a relaxed state these days. You can do yoga, massage, Feldenkrais, breathwork, stretching, hot tubs, Healing Touch, Reiki, exercise, and meditation to name a few. I have experienced most of those options and they are all wonderful. But, when you’ve finished experiencing one of those techniques, is your house in better shape? No!

When you clear clutter you can create a relaxed state in several ways:

• With each item you get rid of you are are releasing a source of negative energy. As you eliminate negative energy the overall balance of energy becomes more positive. As the energies become more positive, you begin to relax.
• Every item has an energy that talks to you. The more objects in your space, the more conversations you have going on at the same time. A room full of clutter just screams at you. Items with negative energy, like broken things and piles of unprocessed paper, scream the loudest. As you clear clutter you quiet the conversations. The quieter the space, the more relaxed you’ll be.
• When you eliminate things you no longer use or love, it’s much easier to organize what’s left. An organized space is a much more peaceful place than a cluttered space. When a space is peaceful, you can relax.
• Clutter clearing is a form of exercise. Exercise relaxes you!
• When you clear clutter you can think more clearly. When your brain is clear you can relax because you are less likely to make an error in judgment.

So, make clutter clearing a part of your self-care plan to ease stress and be more relaxed! You’ll feel better about the energy of your home as well as your own energy!

I’ve had the pleasure of having an outstanding little dog be a guest in our home these past two weeks. Squeaker Bug is a little gray miniature poodle who belongs to a friend who is spending eight months in Australia. His mom and I decided that he’d be happiest if he was able to spend time with a family instead of with his dad who works long hours and is not a dog lover.

Squeaker is the kind of dog who loves people better than dogs. And, I am his special person at our house. Lucky me! He follows me everywhere, even into the bathroom. His preference is to sit on my lap when I’m at the computer. And, he sleeps on my pillow above my head at night. He really doesn’t want to go outside unless I go with him. Now, I realize his neediness could be perceived by some as a burden. I’m not always thrilled about having to go outside with him, especially in heavy rain. But, he is so sweet and adoring that I am willing to do what he needs to feel comfortable. His devotion more than makes up for any inconvenience he may cause. My heart just melts when I hold him close. He loves it and so do I. His warmth and caring soothe me.

What soothes you? What helps you relax and release the worries of the day? Playing with your children, a good talk with a friend or spouse, reading a novel, knitting, playing ball with your dog, biking on your favorite trail, doing watercolor painting? Anything activity that feels good and causes no harm to you or anyone else is probably a source of positive energy and therefore good feng shui!

“I never spend time at home.” Those were the words of a woman who recently heard me speak about clearing clutter to get more of what you really want.

When I hear those words they usually mean one of two things:

1. Her house has some serious clutter challenges because she doesn’t have enough time at home to do what it takes to maintain a clutter-free home.

2. Her home is so uncomfortable because of clutter that she’d rather be anywhere else.

People who are never home often develop the dangerous habit of “drop and plop.” When they do get home they are usually so tired that they drop their mail, their bags, their clothes, etc., and plop on the sofa or into bed from exhaustion. Consequently, the all important habits of regularly putting things away, throwing things away, and cleaning up take a back seat to the more pressing need to get rest from the exhaustion of doing too much.

If you suffer from “drop and plop” or if you are over-committed to the point where you have no time or energy to make maintaining a clutter-free home a priority, evaluate your commitments and let go of at least one.

Think of it this way. You are making space for your needs and your well being. Your ability to help others will only increase and deepen when you first MAKE TIME to take care of yourself!

Commit yourself to the path of a clutter-free human “being” by ceasing to be a human “doing!”

Let go and GO HOME!

This blog entry is offered with permission of the author to help you get organized for good health and a healthy weight. Enjoy!

By Charles Stuart Platkin

While there haven’t been any studies I know of linking clutter to obesity, I do know that being disorganized doesn’t help. Think about the factors that facilitate weight loss: increased physical activity, eating healthier foods, good sleeping habits and a balanced emotional life — all related to an organized, clutter-free life.

The fact is that most failed dieters complain that maintaining a diet is just too much work. The amount of information and control required can be extremely difficult to sustain. This becomes especially important when your control systems are weakened — like when you’re disorganized or stressed. When distractions compete for your attention, the mental workload can be overwhelming. That alone could be the reason you fall off your diet. Therefore, you need to arrange your personal environment to maximize your chances of controlling your weight and minimize your chances of slipping up.

One of the leading barriers to increasing your physical activity is time. If your home and office are disorganized and filled with clutter, you’re probably spending a lot of time simply looking for things you need. When you get rid of the clutter, you can make room for a small exercise area and have easy access to your gym clothing so you can get to the gym. Think about it: If you spend 10 fewer minutes a day looking for things, you can spend 10 more minutes exercising.

Keep in mind, while you’re cleaning and organizing you’re also burning 210 calories per hour – not bad. Here are a few key strategies to help you get organized and declutter:

Organize Your Pantry and Have Healthy Spices Available and Easy to Use

If you believe you can easily prepare healthy foods with a disorganized pantry, you’re mistaken.
· Take everything off the shelves.
· Get rid of expired items and foods that have unhealthy ingredients (e.g., partially hydrogenated oils, high-fructose corn syrup). “Trigger foods” also must go. These are your go-to foods that can lead to binges.
· Clean the shelves and, if possible, paint your pantry white, or some bright color so you can see the foods you have.
· When restocking the shelves, group like foods together and try to make healthy foods easily accessible so that you reach for them first. Several companies make storage containers and tools to help you get organized. ( www.spacesavers.com, www.containerstore.com/shop/kitchen)
· Create an easy-to-use spice section. Spices make bland foods taste great, and should be used as part of your cooking process.

· Make sure you have the following:

o Fat-free cooking sprays.
o Fat-free, low-sodium chicken broth.
o Rice vinegar, apple cider vinegar and balsamic vinegar to add a lot of zing.
o Canned beans.
o Whole-wheat bread crumbs and flour.
o Soups and other healthy canned foods: It is not cheating to open a can of low-calorie soup or tuna for a fast dinner. Stock up on these foods — they’re filling, inexpensive and right there when you don’t feel like making a big deal out of dinner.

· Go through your utensils do you really need everything you have? Put things you don’t often use on a top shelf where they won’t get in your way.

· Things you do need:
o Several small plastic cutting boards or mats that fit into your dishwasher.
o Very sharp knives, along with a knife sharpener.
o A food processor or blender to slice, grind, dice, chop and shred.
o A microwave: Great for defrosting meat and reheating leftovers. It also cooks a potato in about seven minutes.

o Pots and pans, readily available and in good working order.

· Make sure your countertops are clean and free of unopened mail, old newspapers and magazines; they’re supposed to be for food prep.

Refrigerator Makeover

Take the Fridge Quiz at www.dietdetective.com/column/refrigerator-quiz.aspx. Would you shop in a dirty, poorly laid out grocery store? Keep your fridge clean and organized into sections, just like a supermarket. Soda and juice are high in calories; try to keep water or unsweetened iced tea in the front so you grab them first. Better yet, toss the cola.

Fruits and veggies should be front and center and at eye level so you see them. Keep all the high-cal foods in the fruit and veggie drawer or in the back.

Be Fitness Prepared

Have a gym bag packed and ready to go. Buy a crate to store all your fitness items, including sneakers, bands, pedometer, gym clothes, fitness DVDs, jump-rope, etc. Make everything easily accessible and ready to use.

Organize Your Closets and Garage
Get all the areas of your life organized, including your closets and garage. Using storage bins is great, as long as they don’t serve as another place to hide stuff you don’t need. If you haven’t used something in the last two years, chances are you will not use it at all. If you do end up storing things, make sure to label and make detailed lists of what’s in each container.

You’ve tried before and it didn’t work? Check out a few of these Web sites:
Real Simple: http://tiny.cc/eQYSZ
Good Housekeeping: www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/getting-organized
Oprah magazine: www.oprah.com/home/Clean-Your-Messy-House-in-6-Months
Unclutter Blog: http://unclutterer.com/
Clutter Diet Blog: http://www.clutterdietblog.com/

And if you can’t do it yourself, find someone to do it for you. The National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO) has about 4,200 members — visit their Web site at www.napo.net. You can also take a “help wanted” ad for an organizer on Craigslist.org, or have an organizing party with your friends. (There are always a few friends who would love to get their hands on organizing your house.)
____________________________________

CHARLES STUART PLATKIN, Ph.D., M.P.H. is a nutrition and public health advocate and founder of DietDetective.com. Copyright 2010 by Charles Stuart Platkin. All rights reserved. Sign up for the free Diet Detective newsletter at www.DietDetective.com

The roles of wife and mother are all-consuming, often leaving women with no idea about what really matters to them. In a sense they lose their identity when they have children. Many women I’ve worked with can tell you what they want for their children and their family much more easily than they can tell you what they want for themselves. It’s as if they don’t have the time or energy to figure it out because they are consumed with the responsibilities of being the CEO of the home. When their children grow up and leave home moms come face to face with themselves. And, they often don’t like the person staring back at them in the mirror. Years of self-neglect can leave women over-weight, exhausted, sick and sometimes depressed.

My solution–give a busy wife/mom a room of her own. If the house is so small that having a whole room is not possible, give her a section of a room that is off limits to the rest of the family.

Why give a woman a room of her own?

• she needs a place where she has complete control, a place that no one else can mess up
• she needs a place to pull together and organize the objects associated with her many projects and responsibilities
• she needs a place where she can express her creativity
• she needs a place to retreat to refuel that is calm, beautiful and organized
• she needs a place to ground herself and get clear about what matters to her

I once had a client who had all her projects piled up on the floor next to her side of the bed. That was a real recipe for sleep problems! There was no way she could sleep peacefully with piles of work-related items in such close proximity .

When I suggested that we find another home for those things she informed me that there were no rooms available for her to claim as her own. Not to be deterred, I asked her to show me around the house to see if we could identify some space that would work as her personal cockpit. We finally settled on a corner of the family room. She claimed as her own the desk and filing cabinet that were already located there and informed family members that the area was off limits to them. Several weeks later she wrote me to thank me for giving her life back to her.

Are you a woman who is unable to get clear about what really matters to you? Are you distracted by a million and one things to do, places to be and people to care for? Do you want the opportunity to have more clarity, more peace, and be more organized? Find a part of your home that you can claim as your own. Make it your own. Make it lovely. Fill it with your projects, books and precious personal items. Then set boundaries by informing family members that the space is yours alone and guard it with your life!

Others that are accustomed to spreading out all over the house may need to be reminded to stay out of your space and keep their things out of it. Do it! It’s time for you to have your own peaceful place to get reacquainted with you. It may feel selfish, but do it anyway! You deserve it! Claiming a space for you is really an act of self-love and self-respect that will make you an even better wife and mother. Go for it!

We all have a need for down time. We need time to do whatever we want to do–rest, read, play on the computer, visit friends, anything that is pleasurable and gives us a break from the many essential tasks of living. I have a hunch that if we don’t make enough time in our busy schedules to take a break, we find ways to take it anyway or we pay for not doing it by being only halfway present for essential tasks.

What may look like poor time management could really be an expression of insufficient down time. You fritter away an afternoon at work, spending more time than is necessary on email and surfing the web. You are exhausted and what you really need is a mental health day. Instead you show up and take the time anyway, procrastinating doing essential tasks, instead playing on the computer.

Imagine having worked for weeks with no quality down time. It’s time to put together an important proposal. How well are you going to be able to work? The part of you that is committed to your survival is going to wage war against the dutiful part of you. You may not procrastinate by wasting time, but it’s quite possible that you will only be able to attack the proposal with half the energy and focus that you would give to it if you were really rested. And, the proposal may get done, but its quality may be half what it could have been–the price you pay for not scheduling sufficient down time.

Have you heard the saying, “We teach first that which we must learn?” I’m writing about this challenge as much for me as for you! It’s time to make down time as essential as going to work!